Ocean Vuong, "The Emperor of Gladness" Reading and Conversation, May 20.

White Whale Bookstore will present Ocean Vuong and his "The Emperor of Gladness" Reading and Conversation at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland on May 20.

White Whale Bookstore is thrilled to welcome bestselling author, award-winning poet, and MacArthur Genius Ocean Vuong back to Pittsburgh in celebration of his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness! Join us May 20th at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall for an unforgettable evening.

Tickets are required to attend this event. Each ticket—except discounted student tickets— will include a signed copy of The Emperor of Gladness, to be picked up at the event. The author will not be personalizing books, or signing any books brought from home.

Can't attend this time? You can preorder The Emperor of Gladness here. For every confirmed preorder of this book, Penguin Press will donate $0.50 to Queer Liberation Library. Let them know you preordered here.

. . .

Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to transform Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community on the brink.

Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Ocean Vuong’s writing—formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness—are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.
 

OCEAN VUONG is the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collections Night Sky with Exit Wounds and Time Is a Mother, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and the American Book Award, he used to work as a fast-food server, which inspired The Emperor of Gladness. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he currently splits his time between Northampton, Massachusetts, and New York City.

The event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and tickets may be purchased online. The Carnegie Library Lecture Hall is located in Oakland, accessible via numerous city buses (map).

Vietnam 9 Vietnam now open in Oakland.

New Vietnamese restaurant Vietnam 9 Vietnam has recently opened in Oakland. Signage went up for the new place in February at 338 S. Bouquet St. (map), in what was most recently Beta Bytes. Vietnam 9 Vietnam, also stylized Vietnam Vietnam 9, has online ordering set up, and its menu features an assortment of pho, banh mi, bun bo hue, com dia, bun, chao, heo kho, and bo kho.

Kpot now coming to Pittsburgh . . . never.

The "coming soon" sign has come down from the former Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill, where the highly-anticipated Kpot was supposed to open a while ago. It has been replaced by a For Lease sign. I actually had a post set to publish on May 28 to mark the second anniversary of "coming soon" signage with absolutely no updates or movement, so I've needed to modify that now.

While driving to work on May 28, 2023 I passed by workers putting up a "Kpot Coming Soon" sign on the old Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill. (You may have seen the photo when other local news sites lifted it without attribution.) Over the last two years, however, almost no activity has taken place in the large Murray Avenue restaurant space, which led most people to doubt whether Kpot would ever open at all.

The "Pittsburg" location was long listed as "coming soon" on the website as well, but all my inquiries to Kpot always received the same response:

At this time we do not have a definitive date as to when this location will be open. All new location openings will be announced on our FB and IG, stay tuned!

In 2023 and 2024, a number of all-you-can-eat Hot Pot and Korean BBQ places were announced with great fanfare: besides Kpot there was Hong Hot Pot & BBQ on McKnight Road, Korean BBQ in Oakland, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ on the South Side, Running Dish at the Waterfront, and Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless and Robinson, plus a couple others announced this year. Hong Hot Pot & BBQ is the only one to open so far, while the others remain in various stages of (in)completion, months and sometimes years after initial target opening dates. To editorialize for a moment, I have to wonder if the growing costs of construction and ingredients---which will only continue to climb under Trump---paired with adminsitrative delays have made owners second guess the feasibility of these restaurant concepts. While Korean BBQ is of course popular throughout the US, one of the appeals to these places in Korea is how cheap and ubiquitous they are; families may bristle at spending $150-$200 for a night out, particularly as we enter an economic recession or depression.

HK Dim Sum holds Grand Opening in Oakland today, May 8.

HK Dim Sum, also stylized Hong Kong Dim Sum, has officially grand opened today in North Oakland. It soft opened back on April 15 and is located at 4520 Centre Ave. in North Oakland's One on Centre complex (map). The menu features a variety of dumpling, dim sum, and dessert dishes in addition to more commonly-found rice and noodle entrees, and the space features a large dining room plus three private rooms for events. Announced back in September 2023, HK Dim Sum was aiming to help fill in one of the remaining gaps in Pittsburgh's Asian food scene. Its hours are currently 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration, May 18 at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

The Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History will host an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration on May 18.

Carnegie Museums is thrilled to honor and celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Join us and our community partners throughout the day for guided tours, activities and performances.

Razin M. Karu, Executive Director PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs, will be reading a proclamation from Governor Shapiro on Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month.

11:45 a.m.-12 p.m.  Opening Remarks and Proclamation from the Govenor read by Razin M. Karu in the Hall of Sculpture

12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Performances in the Hall of Sculpture and Sculpture Court

1:45 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Performances in the Hall of Sculpture and Sculpture Court

11:00 a.m.-3 p.m. Tabling and activities throughout the Sculpture Court and the Scaife Hallway Activities include: Calligraphy, Dynasty Costume Try on, Cultural Crafts, and storytelling

1:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Screenings of The Last Mayor of Chinatown in Earth Theater (Run Time: 13:34 minutes)

Performers for the event include: BCAP, OCA Pittsburgh, Silk Elephant Thai Dance Troupe, Geeta Tahiliana-Bollywood, PCCC Art Group, Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, and DnB Magnets. It runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and is free with museum admission.

Win-Win Kung Fu in Squirrel Hill offering six-week summer camp for kids' martial arts, fitness, culture, and language training; $30 discount extended through May 31.

Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center's annual summer camp returns for six weeks of programming in July, and the school has extended its $30-per-week discount for registrants through May 31.

 Camp Schedule:

• Week 1: July 7 – 11
• Week 2: July 14 – 18
• Week 3: July 21 – 25
• Week 4: July 28 – August 1
• Week 5: August 4 – 8
• Week 6: August 11 – 15

 Location: Squirrel Hill Studio – 2705-2707 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
 Time: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (optional extended care until 5:30 PM)
 Ages: 5 – 15 years

 What to Expect

 Learn Kung Fu/Wushu/Tai Chi from champion masters
 Train in martial arts fundamentals
 Boost focus, fitness, and confidence with intensive training
 Dive into Mandarin language, Chinese culture, games, and movies
 Have fun in a supportive and engaging environment

 Tuition & Registration

• $240 per 5-day week (Save $30 when you register by May 31!)
• 10% discount for siblings
• New students: One-time $90 registration fee (includes a pair of training shoes, T-shirt, and training pants)
• Free registration for current Win-Win students
• Only 25 spots per week – First Come, First Serve!

 How to Register
 Current Win-Win students: Complete the selection form and submit a 20% tuition deposit.
 New students: Fill out the registration form, sign the waiver, complete the selection form, and submit a 20% tuition deposit along with the $90 registration fee.

Seats fill up fast, so don’t miss out on a summer of fun and learning!

For questions or to register, call (412) 336-8898 or email masters [at] winwinkungfu.com.

The studio is located at 2705 Murray Ave., on the ground floor of the Morrowfield building in Squirrel Hill South (map). 

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, with more theaters likely to be announced later; tickets are not yet available.

2012 Japanese animated movie Wolf Children (おおかみこどもの雨と雪) in Pittsburgh-area theaters in 4K, May 11 - 13.

The 2012 Japanese animated movie Wolf Children (おおかみこどもの雨と雪) in Pittsburgh-area theaters in 4K May 11, 12, and 13.

College student Hana falls in love with a “wolf man” and together they have two half-human, half-wolf children, Ame and Yuki. The young family’s happy but humble life comes to an abrupt end when the father is tragically killed during a hunt. After struggling to raise her children in the busy city, Hana boldly decides to move to a dilapidated house in the countryside, in hopes that her children may one day decide their own path to happiness – whether “human” or “wolf.” This heart-wrenching modern fairy tale is a staggering work of beauty and emotion from Academy Award®-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda. Rich with gorgeous animation and set to a poignant musical score, Wolf Children is a sweeping tale about self-discovery and the bonds of family.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Robinson, and tickets are available online. Please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

2021 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, May 14.

The 2021 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh on May 14.

After completing their rehabilitation training, Tanjiro and his comrades arrive at their next mission on the Mugen Train, where over 40 people have disappeared. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they face the nightmare on board.

The film played here throughout Summer 2021. It plays locally on the 14th at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.

The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from numerous restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. 

Experience Asian culture and flavors at the Taste of Asia program.

Join the History Center on a cultural and culinary journey to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Taste of Asia.

Presented in partnership with the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, the program will highlight Asian American contributions of the past and present in Pittsburgh.

Indulge in delicious bites from an assortment of local Asian restaurants, explore the history of Pittsburgh’s Asian American community with the Detre Library & Archives, and watch live performances to learn about cultural celebrations.

Engage with local chefs and expand your palette by sampling food from participating restaurants, including:

• Chengdu Gourmet 2
• Sushi Fuku
• Senyai Thai Kitchen
• 1:11 Juice Bar
• Bombay to Burgh
• Charm Thai Pittsburgh
• Grapow
• Hungry Panda
• Kung Fu Chicken
• Mango Mango
• Modern Filipino Cuisine
• Nan Xiang Dumpling
• Nepali Community of Greater Pittsburgh
• Sumi’s Cakery
• Sushi Too
• WeiLai Dim Sum
• Yotea Yoka Kitchen

Restaurant vendors will also have takeaway food available to purchase.

Don’t miss the chance to discover and celebrate the incredible diversity of Asian food culture in Pittsburgh!

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).